What Is Managed Print, Exactly?

Your printers print, your copiers all copy: what can a managed print partner do that you’re not doing already?

It’s not an uncommon question for IT professionals to ask themselves. When you’ve got pressing issues like your budget, network security and connectivity on the line, making sure your printers are managed can seem like small potatoes.

From hidden costs associated with copier leases and ink to faulty machinery that takes up your team’s time, that unassuming office printer can turn into your enemy. We’ll further discuss how that revenue is lost later on, but it boils down to this: In order to maximize efficiency, IT needs a partner to take care of the details of print management.

That’s where a managed print service (MPS) comes in. With managed print, you reduce that 14 percent of wasted revenue and free up time so you can focus on the IT priorities that best further your strategy.

But what exactly does a partnership with a managed print service look like on a day-to-day? Here are a few elements you may not know about:

1. Managed print is about more than toner delivery

There are companies that exist to sell you equipment and there are those that exist to change your print cartridges, but true managed print does all that and more.

A great service is equal parts extra limb to your IT department, personal office supply store and partner in strategic planning. They provide you with new supplies, bolster your IT support by taking on maintenance tasks and integrate into your IT strategy to help you maximize your outcomes.

But when you’re in the market for a managed print service, go for the ones that place ahigh value on customer service:they’ll be best prepared to take on those responsibilities and provide you agile support with whatever else you need.

Whether you’ve got a question about how to repair a faulty scanner, a major repair that’s halting progress or you just want to gain more insight into the usage of the third-floor scanner, they’ll be there to help.

MPS is a bit of a misnomer. A good partner won’t just help you manage print: they’ll help you keep track of your scanners, copiers, IT staff and strategy as well. Why?

The best MPS companies work with you to understand your goals and help you determine the best print processes, supplies, workflows and much more that maximize your efficiency, both in terms of your equipment and your people, so everything works better.

But without a managed print service to streamline print costs, it’s difficult to account for this spend. This is because it’s broken up between service contracts, equipment leases and purchase receipts. It’s a herculean task to compile all these separate records and get an accurate read on what you’re spending.

A managed print service partner makes it so you don’t need to deal with that accounting. By taking all print-related expenditures, they present you with a single invoice with everything accounted for, bringing you the level of transparency you need to understand true print costs.

What’s more, they can implement processes to decrease the amount of paper your company prints, saving you money.

5. ...and give you peace of mind about your process

With a managed print company, you don’t need to worry about your printers. That frees up your department’s time to focus on strategic initiatives and gives you the ability to ensure your strategy is actually being implemented. That means you’re better equipped to heighten company security, streamline processes and maximize IT efficiency.

Do you want to know more about working with a managed print partner? Take a look around the imageOne website. Our services pages will let you know how we help you gobeyond managing print,empowering your IT department at every step. More of a talker? Contact us below to get in touch.